Ackermann: Lions won the defining moments at Newlands

REACTION: The victorious Lions will be sweating over the fitness of a couple of key players ahead of their crunch encounter with the Jaguares.

The Lions, who moved into top spot in the combined SAfrica conference with an historic 29-16 win over the Stormers at the weekend, face the Jaguares in Johannesburg on Friday.

However, fullback Andries Coetzee and star centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg are both doubtful starters ahead if the encounter at Ellis Park.

Coetzee suffered concussion when he 'collided' with the shoulder of Stormers loose forward Nizaam Carr just before half-time and was replaced by Sylvain Mahuza.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg injured his knee in the first half and was replaced by Harold Vorster.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann said he will wait until he has seen the reports from the medical staff on Monday before making comment on their possible availability for the encounter with the South American franchise.

The Lions mentor, Ackermann, and captain Warren Whiteley felt they won the 'defining moments' at Newlands - particularly a 15-minute period just after half-time - when they clung to their 22-13 lead, despite wave after wave of attacks by the Stormers.

"It was a massive game as a whole, but those 10 to 15 minutes [after the break] was quite defining," Ackermann said of his team's first-ever Super Rugby win at Newlands.

"I am really proud of the guys - a lot of energy and commitment went in [to keep the Stormers out].

"When we got out by winning a scrum we knew the guys would be tired, but mentally up for it.

"If they [the Stormers] had scored there, it would have been a real arm wrestle."

Ackermann said his team's defence was 'excellent', adding that they showed "a lot of heart and commitment".

"The attitude was right and the accuracy was good," the Lions coach said.

Whiteley said the key was that the Lions remained calm during that onslaught by the Stormers in the first 15 minutes after the break.

"We were under pressure from the start [of the second half], but we got a lot of confidence out of that period," Whiteley said.

"Mentally, more than anything, it lifted us as a team."

The Lions captain said it was a real arm-wrestle and the tight forwards held the key.

"Our tight five worked extremely hard at scrum time, maul time and getting up off the floor," he said, adding: "Our tight five was brilliant.